Local government plays a critical role in delivering services and supporting economic development. However, many municipalities face severe governance and capacity challenges, leading to infrastructure decline and poor service delivery.
The ANC’s District Development Model (DDM) seeks to address these failures through greater coordination and centralised planning. The DA believes this approach misidentifies the root causes of municipal dysfunction. Service delivery failures stem primarily from weak governance, corruption, and a shortage of technical capacity rather than from a lack of national coordination.
Centralisation risks undermining local autonomy and duplicating existing planning systems without addressing institutional weaknesses. Sustainable improvements in municipal performance depend on capable administrations, sound financial management, and accountable leadership rather than additional layers of bureaucracy.
The DA’s approach focuses on strengthening local government capacity, improving governance standards, and ensuring that decisions affecting communities are taken at the most appropriate level. Effective intergovernmental cooperation remains necessary, but it must support rather than replace local accountability and responsiveness.
A capable, decentralised system of governance is essential for restoring service delivery, rebuilding infrastructure, and ensuring that municipalities are responsive to the needs of the communities they serve.